Why a Brother Walking Foot is a great investment.

Why a Brother Walking Foot is a great investment.

If you sew anything beyond the occasional pillowcase, you’ve probably heard of the walking foot. I had mine in the bag it came in and didn’t think much of it at first—until I tried it. Now, I wonder how I ever managed without my Brother walking foot.

For those unfamiliar, a walking foot (sometimes called an even feed foot) is a sewing machine attachment that helps feed multiple layers of fabric through the machine evenly. This sounds simple, but it’s a game-changer—especially if you sew quilts, knits, or anything slippery.

I use mine with my Brother F420, and it’s transformed my sewing experience. Whether I’m quilting, matching plaids, or sewing stretch fabrics, it keeps layers aligned and helps prevent puckering or shifting. My most recent project was 24 (48 front and back pieces) Easter baskets and the walking foot allowed me to quilt these at home with no problem at all.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:

• Install it carefully: The walking foot has a little fork arm that needs to sit over the needle bar screw. It’s easy to pop on and off.
• Go slow and steady: The walking foot works best at a moderate speed. I’ve found that rushing can defeat its purpose.
• Perfect for quilting: It’s brilliant for straight-line quilting. Your top and bottom layers won’t shift, so your stitch lines stay neat.
• Use a longer stitch length: This helps the fabric feed more smoothly and can enhance the look of quilting lines.

Bellarine Sewing Centre has a stock of these and as always the staff are super helpful with advice on what size you will need, how to attach it and best practise for use.

If you’re on the fence about getting a walking foot, especially if you work with tricky fabrics or multiple layers, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a small tool that delivers big results—and it’s made sewing feel so much more enjoyable.

Happy stitching!